Last updated: 2026-07-10 — this page is reviewed and updated daily against company IR releases, SEC filings, and regulator publications. Only dated, source-confirmed events are listed.
Quick Status Table
| Company | Primary regulator | Certification status (confirmed) | Latest confirmed milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joby Aviation (JOBY) | FAA (U.S.) | Type certification in progress — first FAA-conforming aircraft flying since March 2026 | Joby–Toyota strategic manufacturing alliance, initial phase (2026-06-30) |
| Archer Aviation (ACHR) | FAA (U.S.) | First eVTOL maker to close Phase 3 of the FAA’s 4-phase type certification process (per Q1 2026 results); now working through the final phase | Q1 2026 results: record certification progress, initial U.S. operations expected in 2026 (2026-05) |
| EHang (EH) | CAAC (China) | Fully certified in China: Type Certificate + Production Certificate + Air Operator Certificates — commercial passenger flights operating | First batch of Air Operator Certificates granted to EHang operators in Guangzhou and Hefei (2025-03-30) |
Joby Aviation (JOBY) — FAA Certification Status 2026
Joby is pursuing FAA type certification for its piloted electric air taxi. Confirmed milestones from company announcements:
- 2026-06-30 — Joby and Toyota Motor Corporation launched the initial phase of their strategic manufacturing alliance, a step toward scaled production. (Joby IR)
- 2026-03-11 — Joby’s first FAA-conforming aircraft took flight — conforming aircraft are the ones used for FAA “for credit” certification testing. (Joby IR)
- 2026-03-09 — Joby announced it will begin U.S. operations in 2026 under the White House air taxi program (eIPP). (Joby IR)
What remains: completing FAA type certification (conforming flight-test campaign and remaining compliance verification), production conformity, and operational approvals ahead of planned 2026 U.S. service entry.
Archer Aviation (ACHR) — FAA Certification Status 2026
Archer is pursuing FAA type certification for its Midnight aircraft. Confirmed milestones from company announcements:
- 2026-05 — Q1 2026 results: Archer reported record FAA certification progress, stating it is the first to close Phase 3 of the FAA’s 4-phase type certification process for an eVTOL, with initial U.S. operations expected in 2026. (Archer IR)
- 2026-02 — FY2025 results: Archer reported final FAA acceptance of 100% of its Means of Compliance — the first eVTOL maker to reach that milestone. (Archer IR)
- Archer is named the Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic Games and participates in the White House eIPP program, in coordination with the DOT and FAA. (Archer — Certification)
What remains: closing the final phase of type certification (“for credit” flight testing and documentation), then production and operational approvals to support planned 2026 launch cities.
EHang (EH) — CAAC Certification Status (China)
EHang’s EH216-S pilotless passenger eVTOL is certified and commercially operating in China — the only eVTOL in this tracker with a completed certification stack, albeit under the CAAC (China), not the FAA:
- 2025-03-30 — First batch of Air Operator Certificates (OC) for civil human-carrying pilotless aircraft granted by CAAC to EHang’s operators in Guangzhou and Hefei — commercial passenger flights (tourism/sightseeing) began ticketed service. (EHang IR)
- 2024-04-07 — Production Certificate (PC) from CAAC — the world’s first PC in the eVTOL industry. (EHang IR)
- 2023-10-13 — Type Certificate (TC) for the EH216-S from CAAC — the world’s first TC for a passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL. (EHang)
What remains: scaling commercial operations beyond initial sites, and any future certification path outside China (no FAA type-certification program for the EH216-S has been publicly confirmed).
How the FAA type certification process works (context)
For eVTOL applicants the FAA process is commonly described in four phases: (1) certification basis, (2) means of compliance, (3) certification plans / compliance verification, and (4) “for credit” testing and final review leading to the Type Certificate. A Type Certificate alone does not start commercial service — production certification and operational approvals (e.g., Part 135) follow. EHang’s Chinese path under CAAC used the equivalent TC → PC → OC sequence, which it has completed.
Methodology
This tracker is maintained by an automated research pipeline that checks company investor-relations releases, SEC filings, and regulator publications daily. We list only events we can confirm from primary sources, with dates. When there is no confirmable update, this page simply keeps its last confirmed state — we do not extrapolate or guess. For daily market commentary, see our latest daily briefings.